There are several types of hand trucks available for the commercial and non-commercial user.
Before you buy one, you need to consider the environment you’re going to use it in, the weight that needs to be carried, and the capabilities of the user (Source).
Likewise, you need to look at the components of the truck to make sure it fits your needs. To begin with, your prime consideration is safety.
Next to that, you have to identify what you’ll be carrying. Some trucks are specifically designed for stair-carrying and you will need to make sure the truck you purchase is one of these.
There are two types of hand trucks for stairs. You can identify them either by their 3-wheel design or special one-wheel stairclimber design.
The latter type makes use of stair glides instead of additional wheels. However, either one can enable you to climb stairs with comparative ease even with a heavy load.
Best Hand Trucks for Stairs 2019
Table of Contents
- 1 Best Hand Trucks for Stairs 2019
- 2 1. NK Heavy Duty Hand Truck – Best Aluminum Hand Truck
- 3 2. Cosco 3-in 1 – Best Hand Truck for Commercial Users
- 4 3. Vevor Stair Climbing Cart – Best All Round Stair Climbing Hand Truck
- 5 4. Eezglobal Foldable Stair Climbing Hand Truck and Luggage Cart – Best Luggage Cart
- 6 5. Harper PGCSK19BLK – Best Value for Money Hand Truck
- 7 Things to Consider Before Buying Your Hand Truck
- 8 The Final Verdict
| NK Heavy Duty Hand Truck | |||
| Cosco 3-in-1 | |||
| Vevor Stair Climbing Cart | 3-wheel design | ||
| Eezglobal Foldable Hand Truck and Luggage Cart | Spare wheels Easy to use | ||
| Harper PGCSK19BLK | Curved handle Glass filled nylon body Additional accessories can be purchased |
1. NK Heavy Duty Hand Truck – Best Aluminum Hand Truck
Moreover, it carries an above average load at 500lbs. Therefore, it is a good all-around hand truck as well.
Additionally, it also boasts a superior design with a two-wheel stair-climbing feature. It fetaures a dual handle for flexible handling, too.
As you might know, aluminum has the advantage of being fairly lightweight for transportation when not in use.
This truck proves itself easy to handle whether loaded or unloaded; which is an important feature if you are looking after a one-person operation of your hand truck.
In addition to that, the aluminum material is rust proof.
- Easy to handle
- Heavy carrying capacity
- Tough and durable material for frame
- Rust proof
- Lightweight
- Nose plate design limits carrying capacity
- Aluminum wheel construction
2. Cosco 3-in 1 – Best Hand Truck for Commercial Users
It boasts a big carrying capacity at 800lbs; a great feature not found in other models on the market. Moreover, when used in the platform configuration, it has an even greater load capacity. It will carry up to 1000lbs.
Besides that, it is made from heavy-duty aluminum so it is lightweight to transport between jobs and is easier to handle.
Furtheremore, it’s design has three different configurations: upright stair climbing truck, four-wheeled cart, or four-wheeled hand truck for flat transportation.
Alongside that, it also has a good turning capacity for maneuvering in tight spaces.
- Very versatile
- Lightweight construction
- High load capacity
- No tie downs
3. Vevor Stair Climbing Cart – Best All Round Stair Climbing Hand Truck
Meanwhile, this cart is one of top choices in the market because of its all-around features and design.
It has everything you would need for a stair-climbing truck. First, it is lightweight compared to other hand trucks. Second, it can still support the stair-climbing capacity you’re looking for despite that.
Third, its sturdy construction makes it ideal for businesses. It boasts undeflatable and solid rubber tires.
Additionally, they also have good grip and handle uneven surfaces well.
However, it is ideal for smaller businesses and home use only because it is not a large hand truck and is easy to handle.
By saying it caters to small businesses well enough, it means they have an adjustable handle that does good if there are multiple users of the hand truck.
- Lightweight construction
- 3-wheel design
- Adjustable stainless steel handles
- Smooth and solid rubber tires
- Strong and sturdy
- Lightweight design
- Less than average carrying capacity
- The carrying capacity of this model is only in the average range
4. Eezglobal Foldable Stair Climbing Hand Truck and Luggage Cart – Best Luggage Cart
This is a lightweight luggage hand truck that would be a great companion when travelling and could also serve as a hand truck for smaller carrying jobs around the home. It has a carrying capacity of 400lbs.
Additionally, the stair climbing facility is a great feature when transporting luggage and other carrying jobs around the home or office. The steel frame means it is a good and strong cart for its size, and the overall weight of this truck means that it is fairly easy to transport when not in use.
Moreover, the back strut also means you can sit this truck down when loading. The tie-down straps that come with this hand truck means you can secure your items for extra safety.
- Convenient folding design
- Back strut for easier loading
- Tie downs for securing items
- Smaller carrying capacity
- Less robust construction than other hand trucks
5. Harper PGCSK19BLK – Best Value for Money Hand Truck
It is made of a relatively lightweight glass-filled nylon material that is strong and durable. However, because it is a large hand truck, it is quite on the heavy side.
On the bright side, it does mean it has a large carrying size. Plus, it has built-in stair glides for stair climbing.
Therefore, with a carrying capacity of 600lbs., it is ideal for medium to large size commercial businesses.
Additionally, its strong steel construction means it will last its customers for many years and provide good value for money because steel is a premium material for such an item.
Now, on a final note, the extra carrying capacity equates to fewer trips for you while doing the work.
- Huge load capacity
- Large carrying bed for large items
- Strong steel frame
- Large item to store when not in use
- Heavy to transport
- Can be unwieldy for smaller users
Things to Consider Before Buying Your Hand Truck
When trying to decide on how much to spend, think about what you will save on moving costs. That may prompt you to buy a more durable and costly model.
Similarly, it will be cost effective if you move often. It even enable you to do without a removal firm altogether.
However, always keep safety in mind; whether in a home or commercial setting. Protecting one’s employees is necessary and the same goes for one’s own health.
Material
When considering the material your hand truck will be made out of, you need to consider how far you will have to transport the hand truck when not in use and how much use it will get in its lifetime.
If you will find yourself transporting it between locations, a lighter weight model may be useful.
However, if you are a commercial user who will be using your hand truck on a daily basis with heavy loads, then a sturdier model may be more cost effective.
The main materials used are aluminum and steel. Aluminums are light, while those made from steel are heavy but ideal for constant usage.
Likewise, the material used in the tires of your hand truck is important as well. Solid rubber tires are preferable because they do not require re-inflation at any point. However, pneumatic tires have the advantage of travelling well over rough ground.
Therefore, your work or home environment is a consideration when looking at the tire material on the trucks. The bottom line is if you have delicate items to transport, pneumatic tires are an advantage. However, this probably not compatible with moving heavy loads.
Lastly, you would need to sort out in advance how heavy your average and maximum loads would be. Alongside that, consider the variety of loads you’ll be carrying as well.
Type
Different types of hand trucks suit different users. Besides that, if you need to transport goods in a variety of different locations, then one of the more versatile models may suit your needs better. However, for a factory or commercial setting, a more sturdy and a non-convertible type may be better suited to your needs.
If you require a hand truck for carrying luggage as well as heavier items, there are suitable trucks in this list for you. Keep in mind it is difficult to combine the heavy-duty tasks of furniture removal with the lighter ones of luggage carrying, so it pays to consider the use your truck will be put to before purchase.
It addition to that, if luggage carrying is required, the weight of the truck once your travels are complete will be a consideration.
In any case, anyone who has struggled with a heavy suitcase up a flight of stairs will appreciate that hand carts designed to do the job are invaluable.
Size
Meanwhile, it pays to consider where you will store your hand truck when it is not in use. One that folds away has the advantage of taking up less space than stronger, one piece designs.
If you would pick the foldable hand cart, the frequency of use should be considered; a truck that has to be assembled before use is not so convenient.
You would also need to consider your users and hopefully not purchase a hand truck that is too unwieldy for your staff or yourself to use. Therefore, it pays to look at the dimensions of the truck before making your final selection.
Consequently, a truck with an adjustable height will provide you with a safer working environment and more value if you have multiple users.
Most importantly, when it comes to size, some people forget that they may have to transport their hand truck to another location within another vehicle. It would do well to consider whether you or another person will be able to lift it into the vehicle required.
This goes on without saying that one should think about the room the hand truck will take up when being transported in this manner as well.
Additionally, it pays to consider the size of the tires on your hand truck when making your purchase. A larger diameter tire will obviously be useful if you have to carry heavier than average loads.
Price
Value for money should be your benchmark. Aim to set a budget for your purchase and then consider your needs. Do your research and find out which trucks meet your specifications.
Once you have found a make of hand truck that you love, shop around to see if you can obtain a better price for a better product.
Truck Make
A reliable brand is a good starting point when doing your research. Use the internet to find out what others are saying about prospective purchases.
Also, a reliable manufacturer will have a good warranty system. Although that is a feature which you hope you will never have to use, it pays to have it in place. Purchasing a hand truck is not a small purchase, after all.
The Final Verdict
The final verdict is up to you. Everyone’s needs are different and the range of hand trucks in this list is quite large. Some are suitable for big jobs and others have different functions.
Don’t forget that safety is one of your main concerns so make sure you and others are able to use your hand truck properly once you have purchased it. Good luck with your purchase.
Nice List. None of the “3 wheel per side” variety of stair climbers work well on a lot of the “platform stairs”. For that matter, none of them work particularly smoothly on the “bullnose” stairs either (stairs with a protrusion on the topmost part).
Here’s one that is coming out soon, that handles all three stair types smoothly (Regular, Bullnose AND Platform). Check the infographic on stairtruck.com for the comparison to other solutions)
It’s Patent Pending, made in the USA, has innovative Quad Wheel Stair Climbing System, A premium aluminum folding frame, airless/punctureless Tires, a built-in ratcheting tie-down strap and casters with brakes.
Cheers
Pete